[ EDITORIAL ]

Controlled Prescriptions: Rx For Drug Database

Published: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 12:08 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 12:08 a.m.

A recent push to provide state funding for Florida's prescription-drug database has been strong. Despite early reluctance to commit state dollars, Gov. Rick Scott said last week that he would consider Florida funding. The database is being supported by $140,000 in federal grants, but they are expected to run out by the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

Further information about the database has arisen: Just keeping the database — used by doctors and pharmacists to check on the filling of prescriptions for controlled drugs by patients, with the possibility of finding overfilled prescriptions — is not enough. Florida's year-old database program needs teeth.

An investigative report by the Tampa Bay Times, published Oct. 7, revealed that since the founding of the database Sept. 1, 2011, 48 million prescriptions have been written for controlled substances. However, the doctors writing those prescriptions have checked the database just 2 percent of the time before prescribing the painkiller oxycodone and other powerful — and too often deadly — drugs.

Pharmacists who fill those prescriptions checked the database 1.9 percent of the time, the Times reported. The Times calculated both percentages for usage of the database — which is available as an optional tool for doctors and pharmacists — using figures from the Florida Department of Health.

So few doctors and pharmacists check the database before prescribing for dispensing drugs because the law does not require them to.

The law governing the database has only one requirement: Dispensers of the drugs, usually pharmacists, must enter the prescription's details into the state's online program within seven days.

AMEND THE LAW

Physicians and pharmacists entrusted with caring for the sick should voluntarily take the time — estimated at a minute or less — to check a database designed to prevent drug abuse and deaths from overdose. After all, prescription-drug abuse kills an average of more than six people a day in Florida.

Because they don't, it should be mandated.

Given the lack of participation in the program, it's amazing that Florida has begun to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse.

Two years ago, lack of a prescription-drug database in Florida and other lax laws encouraged the growth of illicit pain clinics. Drug dealers and abusers swarmed. Florida became known as America's "pill mill capital."

Kentucky would be a good example to emulate.

After years of voluntary use of Kentucky's prescription-drug database, the Times reported, "just one in five prescribers were using the system." The system processed about 2,900 requests a week.

Last year, Kentucky mandated participation. Now the system gets 95,000 weekly inquiries.

Every state except Missouri has a drug database or laws requiring the creation of one. Twelve states have approved mandates.

Florida should be the next.

First, the Legislature needs to ensure the future of Florida's drug database.

Unreasonable restrictions on the funding of the database — denying not only state dollars but contributions from pharmaceutical companies — were written into the legislation to appease Scott and others who initially opposed the bill.

Ideally, the Legislature would follow Scott's recent change of heart and provide annual funding for this critical program, for which the full cost is about $500,000 a year. At a minimum, it should remove the restriction on funding by drug companies, providing time to nail down state funding.

Purdue Pharma, the maker of the OxyContin brand of oxycodone, has offered to contribute $1 million toward funding the Florida database. That money alone would fund the database two years.

NEED IS CLEAR

While ensuring, at a minimum, interim funding for the database, the Legislature should change the law to require participation by all physicians who prescribe federally controlled medications and all pharmacists who fill those prescriptions.

The painkillers and sedatives tracked by the database are invaluable to patients who need them. Those patients' access should not be unnecessarily impeded.

However, the need to maintain the database, mandate participation and provide strict penalties for noncompliance is clear.

<p>A recent push to provide state funding for Florida's prescription-drug database has been strong. Despite early reluctance to commit state dollars, Gov. Rick Scott said last week that he would consider Florida funding. The database is being supported by $140,000 in federal grants, but they are expected to run out by the end of the fiscal year on June 30.</p><p>Further information about the database has arisen: Just keeping the database — used by doctors and pharmacists to check on the filling of prescriptions for controlled drugs by patients, with the possibility of finding overfilled prescriptions — is not enough. Florida's year-old database program needs teeth.</p><p>An investigative report by the Tampa Bay Times, published Oct. 7, revealed that since the founding of the database Sept. 1, 2011, 48 million prescriptions have been written for controlled substances. However, the doctors writing those prescriptions have checked the database just 2 percent of the time before prescribing the painkiller oxycodone and other powerful — and too often deadly — drugs.</p><p>Pharmacists who fill those prescriptions checked the database 1.9 percent of the time, the Times reported. The Times calculated both percentages for usage of the database — which is available as an optional tool for doctors and pharmacists — using figures from the Florida Department of Health.</p><p>So few doctors and pharmacists check the database before prescribing for dispensing drugs because the law does not require them to.</p><p>The law governing the database has only one requirement: Dispensers of the drugs, usually pharmacists, must enter the prescription's details into the state's online program within seven days.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>AMEND THE LAW</strong></p><p>Physicians and pharmacists entrusted with caring for the sick should voluntarily take the time — estimated at a minute or less — to check a database designed to prevent drug abuse and deaths from overdose. After all, prescription-drug abuse kills an average of more than six people a day in Florida.</p><p>Because they don't, it should be mandated.</p><p>Given the lack of participation in the program, it's amazing that Florida has begun to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse.</p><p>Two years ago, lack of a prescription-drug database in Florida and other lax laws encouraged the growth of illicit pain clinics. Drug dealers and abusers swarmed. Florida became known as America's "pill mill capital."</p><p>Kentucky would be a good example to emulate.</p><p>After years of voluntary use of Kentucky's prescription-drug database, the Times reported, "just one in five prescribers were using the system." The system processed about 2,900 requests a week.</p><p>Last year, Kentucky mandated participation. Now the system gets 95,000 weekly inquiries.</p><p>Every state except Missouri has a drug database or laws requiring the creation of one. Twelve states have approved mandates.</p><p>Florida should be the next.</p><p>First, the Legislature needs to ensure the future of Florida's drug database.</p><p>Unreasonable restrictions on the funding of the database — denying not only state dollars but contributions from pharmaceutical companies — were written into the legislation to appease Scott and others who initially opposed the bill.</p><p>Ideally, the Legislature would follow Scott's recent change of heart and provide annual funding for this critical program, for which the full cost is about $500,000 a year. At a minimum, it should remove the restriction on funding by drug companies, providing time to nail down state funding.</p><p>Purdue Pharma, the maker of the OxyContin brand of oxycodone, has offered to contribute $1 million toward funding the Florida database. That money alone would fund the database two years.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>NEED IS CLEAR</strong></p><p>While ensuring, at a minimum, interim funding for the database, the Legislature should change the law to require participation by all physicians who prescribe federally controlled medications and all pharmacists who fill those prescriptions.</p><p>The painkillers and sedatives tracked by the database are invaluable to patients who need them. Those patients' access should not be unnecessarily impeded.</p><p>However, the need to maintain the database, mandate participation and provide strict penalties for noncompliance is clear.</p>